Signal switch



Feb. 17. 1925. 1,527,026

J. o. cADlEUx SIGNAL SWITCH 'Filed June 28, 1923 Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH 0. CAEIEUX, OIE' MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 THE CONNECTICUT TELEPHONE & ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED.

SIGNAL SWITCH.

Application filed June 28, 1923. Serial No. 648,213.

T all whom it may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, JOSEPH O. CADIEUX, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Meriden, Connecticut, have iuvented a new anduseful Signal Switcli,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to switches for annunciator or call systems such for instance as are employed in hospitals and the like, but it will be obvious that the invention is applicable to other uses. One object is to provide a simple and reliable form of construction in which the circuit is normally opened and which is automatically locked when the circuit is closed, but which may be manually released when desired. Y

Another object is to provide in such a construction means to enable the operator to flash a signal which has been set.

Another object is to permit the alternate operation of two types of signals. l

Another object is to so relate the circuit closing button to the latch mechanism that the latch may be .readily operated by theY end of the finger but so that there is practically no likelihood Vof accidental release.

Figure 1 is a side view and partial section showing a construction embodying improvements of my invention and with a diagram of one circuit arrangement.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view.

Fig. 3 is a front view.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the base and contacts and showing a spring detached.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the movable contact carrier and operating member.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the frame yand a part of the latch and release member.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the part shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an auxiliary contact member.

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing a modified form of auxiliary contact.

The base 10 of insulating material and may be of any shape depending upon the method of mounting.

A plurality of spring contact lingers such as 11, 12, 13 and 14 are provided and suit ably secured to the insulating base and provided with any suitable form of circuit terminals. While I have shown four of these con-tact lingers, it should be understood that the preferred construction has at least two and may have any greater number. Certain lfeatures of the construction, however, are not limited to any particular number of contacts.

The movable contact 15 in the construction shown is in the form of a ring carried by the insulating button 16 so that the cir cuit is normally open. 'Ihe push button operating member 17 of insulating material is connected to the insulating member 16 and projects through a face plate 18 in which it is guided. rlhis face plate 18 may be of any suitable design or construction depending upon the external form which the switch is to have. For convenience in construction and assembly a frame 19 is secured to the insulating base 10 and carries the end or face plate 18 which may conveniently be secured to it by means of an eyelet 2O which provides the guiding surface for the push button.

The spring 21 which is interposed between the base 10 and the insulating member 16 serves to hold the parts in their normal open circuit relation as shown in Fig. 1, `at which time the shoulder 22 at the inner end of the push button abuts against the inner side of the face plate or the guide member 20. 1When the push button is pushed in, the contact member 15 connects the ends of all the contact lingers.

In the preferred formof construction I provide a latch consisting of the head 23 and the slide 24. The movable contact 15 is insulated from the slide 24 by a washer '16 which also serves to yieldingly check the return movement against the slide. The slide has ends ,25 guided in the sides of the frame 19. The spring 26 yieldingly holds the slide in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The inner face of the head 23 is preferably inclined so as to thrust the slide 24 aside as the head passes through the opening in the slide. As soon as the head 23 has passed through the slide plate 24, the spring 26 will snap the slide plate backbehind the shoulder of the head 23 and hold the parts in the closed circuit position.

The contact member may be released by pressing on the end to slide it sufficiently to release the head 23 from the slide. I prefer, however, to provide an operating los .tact member 33 which is in the tact spring 1l member 27 which is in the form of a leafspring which extends through the frame 19 and has a nger piece 28 in a depression or recess 29 lin the face plate. Normally the parts stand in the position of Figs. 1 and 6 and the latch release member 28 is in the same position whether the circuit is open or closed. When the circuit is open the push button 17 projects out its maximum extent and when the circuit is closed the push button is in To release the switch when the circuit is closed it is simply necessary to grasp the end 18 with two lingers while the finger piece 28 is operated by the end of a lthird finger moving it toward the push button. The motion to release being entirely different from the setting motion, there is no danger of the switch being released accidentally at the instant -of setting. y having the finger Ipiece 28 partially or completely housed wit A lug 30 may be secured to the release member 27 immediately back of the front end of the frame 19 to cover the opening through which the finger piece 28 extends.

In 'addition to the contacts above described I prefer to provide additional contacts for an auxiliary or emergency signal circuit. In to Vform `shown in Figs. 1 and 4 I provide a center contact 31 suitably mounted in the` base and a washer-like member 32 which surroun'ds the member 31 but .does not engage it. Thismember 32 is electrically connected with the contact member 11 and the base of spring 2l presses against it when the parts are assembled. The movable insulating member 16 carries an auxiliary conform of a collar carrying a spring contact element 34. This auxiliary contact may be mounted on a split sleeve portion 35 of the insulation. The

outer end of the spring 2l abuts against the collar 33. lWhen the operating member is vpushed in,l the operating member is pushed in suiiciently farthe edge of the insulating cylinder 16 engages the humped shoulder 36 on the conand` pushes it outward into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

typical circuit arrangement is shown in t e diagram of Fig. 1 where the contact 1l v is shown connected to one side of a source of E.`M. F. A signal device such as a device 37 is Aconnected between each of the other contacts 12, 13 and 14 and the opposite terminal of the source. .It is obvious that when the operating member is pushed in and the .contact 15 e gages the ends of fingers the circuit will extend through the contact finger 11 Ito contact 15 and thence to each of the othercontact fingers simultaneously lighting all of the signal lights 37. When the insulating the spring contact which would 1n the recess 29 apc'- cidental contact and release are prevented.

contact strip 34 engages the-- end of'- the stationary contact 31. When the member is pushed in to the position shown in Fig. 4 the contact finger 11 is pushed away from the contact 15 simultaneously broken. By pushing in on the button 17 it is thus possible to flash all the signal lights. When the center contact 31 is engaged or the operating member is pushed in sufiiciently far, the contact strips 34 engagethe contact 31 and the auxiliary or emergency circuit, for instance through the buzzer 38, is completed (11, 32, 21, 33, 34, 31). AWhen this buzzer\circuit is completed the insulating member 16 is in the dotted position of Fig. 4 and the contact iinger ll is ofi' the contact 15. The lights are therefore out when the buzzer is on. This is not only anadvantage in giving a characteristic emergency signal but it also prevents the drain on the source of power occur were the buzzer and lights all thrust on at the same time.

In Fig of auxihary circuit closing device in which the center contact 3l and the contact elements 33 and 34 are omitted. In this case the auxiliary buzzer contact 40 is mounted in such a position'as to be engaged by the tip 41 ofthecontactl member l1 when the insulating from the contact 15. By such a construction it is possible to obtain a similar alternate operation ofthe main s'gn'al devices and the auxiliary or emergency signals.

The construction shown in'Fig. 9 of this application is claimed specifically in my aplication 1536 filed January 10th, 1925.

I claim :V- A f 1. In a switch, a base, a plurality of contact fingers projecting therefrom, an insulating member slidable between said fingers, a contact member carried thereby to engage said fingers, a face plate, a push button connected to said insulating member and guided in said plate, an auxiliary contact adapted to be electrically connected to oneV of said contact fingers, and means carried by'said insulating member 'for moving said latter finger away from said contact member and electrically connecting it with said auxiliary contact.

2. In a switch, an insulating base, a plurality of contact ngers projecting therefrom, an insulating member slidable between said fingers, a contact member carried therebyv to engage said vcontact lingers,

a push button connected to said insulating.

and all the circuits arel button 16 has lifted the tip away 9 I have shown a modified form.. l

asaaoee engage said spring contact, and the other of which is adapted to engage said center contact, and a spring connecting said spring contact with said second contact member.

Il. A switch, a'spring contact, a stationary contact, a reciprocable insulating member, a cont-act member carried thereby adapted to engage said stationary Contact, said insulating member and said spring contact having cooperating portions whereby said reciprocable member is adapted to move said spring contact laterally when said contact member engages said stationary con-- tact.

5. In a switch, an insulating base, a stationary contact pin projecting therefrom, a spring arm contact carried by said base at one side of said pin, a plunger reciprocable on said pin, a contact carried by said plunger and adapted to engage said spring arm contact and a contact carried by said plunger and adapted to engage said contact pin Within said plunger.

6. In an electric switch, a frame, a face -plate carried by one end of said frame, an

insulating base carried by the other end of said frame, a plunger having a push button guided in said face plate, a contact carried fbase,

by said base, a contact carried by said plunger adapted to engage the contact carried by said base when the plunger and push button are pushed in, a sliding latch member transversely movable in said frame adapted to automatically engage said plunger to hold it in one position, said latch member having one end projecting beyond one side of said frame for lateral engagement to facilitate release of. said latch member ,and

plunger. l 7. In an electric switch, an insulating a U-shaped frame having side bars secured to said base, a face plate at the opposite end of said frame, a tubular rivet connecting said face plate with said frame and a contactcarrying plunger having a push button operator guided in said tubular rivet.

8. In a switch, an insulating base, 'a stationary contact member carried thereby, a

reciprocable memberhaving a sleeve adapted to move axially o said contact and a spring contact carried by said reciprocable member within said sleeve.

9. In a switch, an insulating base, a terminal at one side thereof, a center contact element, an electrically connecting member secured to said base and electrically connected to said terminal and havin a portion arranged at one side of sai center contact element, a contact member reciprocable with respect to said center contact element and a spiral spring interposed between said contact member and said base.

10. In a switch, an insulating base having a spring Contact at one side, a central contact, a spring surrounding said central contact and electrically connected to said spring contact, two contact members reciprocable with respect to said base, 'one of said contact members being electrically connected to said spring and the other adapted to engage said spring contact when said 'first mentioned contact member is out of contacty with said central contact.

ll. In a switch, a plurality of stationary contacts, a movable contact member reciprocable between said stationary contacts,

a push button for operating said movable 'contact member, a ace plate guiding said butt-on guided therein for operating said` movable contact member, a latch for said contact member for holding it in the closed circuit position, a spring tending-to move said contact member to open circuit position, a release member having an operating finger piece let into the surface of said,

face plate alongside of said push button and operable by movement in a direction radial to said push button to release said latch.

13. In a switch, an insulating base, a

central buzzer cont-act, a plurality vof outer light contacts, a main m'ovable contact member for connecting said light contacts, an auxiliary contact member Jforn engaging said buzzer contact, one of said light contacts being laterally movable away` from said movable contact and connected to the buzzer contact and manually operable means for moving said movable contacts toward said buzzer contact and said -light contacts respectivelyand for moving said laterally movable contact away from said main movable contact member.

14. In a switch, a base, a plurality of contact fingers arranged around said base, a center contact carried by said base, a reciprocable member, two contactl members carried thereby and co-acting respectively with the contacts carried by said base and a spring surrounding the center contact and connecting one of said lingers to one of said contact members.

15. In a switch, an insulating base, a terminal and a stationary contact member carried by said base, a reciprocable member having a sleeve adapted to move axially of sald contact member and `a spring contact .carried by said reciprocablemember within portion of said sleeve and a a plunger operable o-n said said sleeve and a spring surrounding said Sleeve and connecting said spring contact and said terminal.

16. In an electric switch, a guide pin contact, a plunger having a split sleeve slidable on said pin contact, a collar surrounding a contact strip embracing said collar and having a yielding end projecting into said sleeve and adapted to engage said pin contact.

17. In an electric switch, an insulating base, a guide pin contact carried thereby,

guide pin contact, a collar carried by said Vplungerrand a contact member embracing opposite edges of said collar and having spring arms projecting inside of said collar and adapted to engage said guide pin contact.

18.. In an electric switch,y an insulating base, a guide pin contact projecting therefrom,'a spring arm contact secured to oneV side of said base, a plunger reciprocable on said guide pin contact, a contact member carried by said plunger and adapted to engage such spring arm contact, a second contact carried by said plunger and adapted base, slde bars connectlng to engage said carried by said plunger for engaging said spring arm contact and moving it away from the co-actingl contact on said plunger.

19. In .an electric switch, an insulating a face plate, longitudinally extending said face plate to said base, spring contact fingers projecting from said'base'towards said face plate, a plunger having a contact reciprocable between said contact lingers, a latch plate co-acting with guided in said side bars and a guide pin contact and means A ly for engagement with said plunger and having its sprlng operatlng arm secured to said base beneath one of the side bars and having one end engaging said latch plate.

20. In an electric switch, `al1 base, a contact pin guide carried by said base, a spring arm contact carried by one side of said base, a plunger reciprocable on said contact pin guide, a contact carried by said plunger adapted to engage said spring arm contact, a spring normally holding said plunger in position with the contact member free from contact with said spring arm contact, a manually releasable' latch for automatically engaging said plunger to hold it `vicldingly in position with its contact member in engagement with said spring arm contact, a second contact carried by said plunger adapted to engage said contact pin gulde and means carried by said plunger for opposite ends v insulating engaging said spring arm contact and disengaglng it from the corresponding contact of said plunger when the otherontact of the Aplunger engages said pin.

In an electric switch, an insulating base, a guide pin embedded in said base and having one end projecting therefrom and a binding screw at the opposite end, a spring arm. contact secured to one side of said base and having a binding screw accessible at the side, a plunger guided on said pin and having inner and outer contacts respectivesaid spring arm contact.

JOSEPH o'. CADIEUX.

said pin and with 

